The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-16
What One Tract Accomplished.

What One Tract Accomplished.
Rev. DR.. Jacob Chamberlain, in an article
IN the Independent, writes:
Nearly forty years ago, tract called
"Jpirit1al Teaching" written by DR.. 81. M.
Scudder, and published BY the American
Tract Society, found its way into Telugu
village, IS miles northwest Of my present
station in India 1t fell into the hands Of one
of the head men Of the village. He was q
He read it and then re-read 1t with more at
tention. 1t was the first that he had
heard of any other religion than Hindu
ism. He had always, longed for some help
to get rid of his sin. This opened to him the
way to secure such help. He read the tract
to his wife and his little boys, and told them
it was SO good it must be true: He read it to
his neighbors, and some of them also &C
cepted its teachings. At last he heard OF q
missionary who taught similar doctrine some
seventy miles away. He went on foot across
the then roadless country, through
the hills to the town where the missionary
was said to live. He found him.. told him
what he had learned; from: the little book,
and asked if it were true, and if he knew
about the God that had given his own Son to
save us from our sins. He went back and
brought his family with him to hear more of
this wonderful news. They were all bap-
J Ph<&SSN
his children in the mission school there to be
educated that they might help make known
these glad tidings to his countrymen. In 1861
buried the old patriarch in Christian
grave He was man of strong faith and
much prayer. He spent his last breath in
sending up shouts of praise to his Savior for
sending this tract out to his village, and
through it saving him from his, SINS
Two of his sons have since BEEN laboring
under my direction as preachers Of the same
gospel. The elder was o. long time native
preacher of the church at Palamanair. In
1884 stood by his bed and saw him pass
through the pearly gates. So much respected
and beloved was he by all that at his funeral,
both ut his house and at the grave, there wasr
besides the Christian congregation, a Large
concourse of heathen and Mohammedars
present, and many team dropped into his
grave with the flower; or the handful of earth
that each one, Hindus as well as Christians,
reverently cast in! After the funeral a prond-
nent Hindu said to me-: "Sir, he was man
that never ceased 10, tell others Of his Savior:
When he was sckin your hospital one OF my
family was also q patient In the same ward
and / was there q great deal. Every day,
and often during the day, he would gather
groups of patients and their friends around
him. and read to them from his Bible, and
talk to them OF the. lowe Of Jesus Christ and
of his willingness to- take away the sins Of all
who would come to- him and ask. Yes, sir,
he was q good man, and we Hindus. too,
nourn over his loss
This was accomplished by that one tract
that found its way, all alone, into that dis
tant Hindu village. Thousands OF Hindu
souls in glory will point back to the Ieafies 20 or
tant homes, first told them Of and bede them
seek "the river Of the water Of life"
PRAYER and praise are like the double
motion Of the lungs; the air that IS drawn
by prayer is breathed forth again Dy thanks
gfving.|Goodwin.
Be faithful in the performance OF duty,
patient in the endurance OF trial, hopeful in
the midst of difficulties, and even trustful In
your Heavenly Fathers care.